Galaxy S 4 Mini comes to the US next month; Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T onboard

The design looks like an S 4, but the spec sheet doesn't.

Samsung's Galaxy S 4 Mini is finally coming to America next month. First announced back in May, the budget smartphone features a similar design to the Galaxy S 4 but "shrinks" the device from a 5-inch screen to a 4.3-inch screen.

Don't get too confused by the name. This phone is not a tiny version of the Galaxy S 4; it just offers "some of the Galaxy S 4 experience," meaning that the software and exterior design are the same. Spec-wise, it's a much lower-end phone than the full-sized S 4, with a miniscule 960×540 resolution, 1.7GHz dual-core processor, and 1.5GHz of RAM. (The full-sized S 4 has a 1080p screen, 1.9GHz quad-core processor, and 2GB of RAM.) Hopefully the smaller phone will lead to a smaller price tag, but pricing information has not been announced yet.

The device comes in black and white and is slated to show up on Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, and US Cellular. The press release states that US availability starts in November, but it notes that "carriers will announce their specific availability, colors, and timing."

Ron Amadeo
Ron is the Reviews Editor at Ars Technica, where he specializes in Android OS and Google products. He is always on the hunt for a new gadget and loves to rip things apart to see how they work. Emailron.amadeo@arstechnica.com//Twitter@RonAmadeo

I fail to see the reason? Dropping the screen resolution is a killer (and can't really save that much money). I understand market segmentation, but this phone would have to be half-price ($300 no plan) to even be considered, and even then, since most people get phones through their provider at discount, I think this is DOA. So you save $30 on hardware, sell for $300 less, and have no takers. Sounds like a winner.

LOL caught that too. but serious question, why does Samsung continue to fragment the android market further and further? They seam to be still lost in the "what works for the general masses" thought. I do love choice, but this further adds to basic consumer confusion, does it not?

I fail to see the reason? Dropping the screen resolution is a killer (and can't really save that much money). I understand market segmentation, but this phone would have to be half-price ($300 no plan) to even be considered, and even then, since most people get phones through their provider at discount, I think this is DOA. So you save $30 on hardware, sell for $300 less, and have no takers. Sounds like a winner.

It's those after-contract prices they're after. This will be around $0 on a 2-year contract and sometimes that's what it takes.

I fail to see the reason? Dropping the screen resolution is a killer (and can't really save that much money). I understand market segmentation, but this phone would have to be half-price ($300 no plan) to even be considered, and even then, since most people get phones through their provider at discount, I think this is DOA. So you save $30 on hardware, sell for $300 less, and have no takers. Sounds like a winner.

There is a reason, it does fill a niche and can benefit (IMHO) from some shared branding. They have the SGS4 (full blown unit), SGS4 active (better waterproofing, dustproof and a bit more rugged), and now the mini (smaller and slightly lighter specs) for those (like myself) who want a good but smaller phone which is becoming increasingly harder to find.

Motorola, ie Google, seems to be the only OEM that has figured this out, with the Droid Mini only a minor downgrade compared to the Droid & Droid MAXX (the screen is LCD instead of OLED, and smaller battery, natch).

Still, the Droid Mini has a pretty large 4.3" screen. It's sad that in the Android world, something significantly larger than the largest iPhone is considered "mini." It's awkward but very usable with my one hand, but I would kill for a high powered Android phone with the exact same form factor as the iPhone 5 series.

Small is great. My HTC explorer is 3.1 inches, and there's a lot of wasted space around the screen, they could make it even smaller I guess.

It still needs the room to fit all of the components inside. It might have been better to utilize a larger screen, while maintaining the same form factor - it would help make the phone feel slimmer with a smaller bezel.

On Verizon, is there any reason to ever consider this over the DroidMini besides the SD slot? (unless you love Samsung or hate Motorola)

*swear I don't work for Motorola/Google - the DroidMini is currently the only "small" android phone available at a US phone retailer that isn't nerfed.. I've found myself offering it as an iPhone alternative lately in mulitple threads when people ask about small android phones - I actually don't own one - it's just the closest in size with full size specs..

Man, I must have some giant hands. I've never had a problem one-handing my Nexus 4.

Here's my one-hand smartphone test: 1) lie on your back, put one hand in your pocket, and hold the phone with your other hand. (the phone should be face-down, such that you have to grip it to avoid dropping it on your face)2) touch all four corners of the screen with your thumb.

I cannot do this with my N4. The only way I can one-handedly reach the whole screen is to precariously balance the phone on my fingertips, which obviously only works face-up.

I have no problem one-handing my S4 (including standing-room-only subway rides the past couple of days where I was using it the whole time while hanging on to a support pole with my other hand), but it would fail that test because the top left corner is hopelessly out of reach. I just rarely have cause to hit anything in the top left.

With an S4 phablet, you could run the risk of the good old "is that a supercomputer in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" ;-)

The S4 mini specs are good enough. I've had one for a few months, and it's a good phone. Fits nicely in the pocket. Has all the features expected from a smart phone. I don't understand the obsession about phablet specs and why that should disqualify a product such as the mini. Phablets are still too small to give a decent movie watching experience, and to under-spec to compare with a gaming rig for gaming. Yes it is nice for that occasional flight when going on vacation or business travel, but why not just bring a book or a real tablet. For me, the phablet is a "worst of all worlds" form factor compromise. Phones should be portable.

Yes, web browsing may not always be super-smooth. But the 95% of the time I use the phone for other things than browsing complex web sites, that has no significance.

Man, I must have some giant hands. I've never had a problem one-handing my Nexus 4.

Here's my one-hand smartphone test: 1) lie on your back, put one hand in your pocket, and hold the phone with your other hand. (the phone should be face-down, such that you have to grip it to avoid dropping it on your face)2) touch all four corners of the screen with your thumb.

I cannot do this with my N4. The only way I can one-handedly reach the whole screen is to precariously balance the phone on my fingertips, which obviously only works face-up.

Laying on your back while one handing your phone is an awkward test in my opinion. Holding any device up in the air over your face while on your back is fatiguing. I never use a device that way, not even my iPhone. It's far more comfortable to lay on either side. One handing the phone in that position is much more comfortable and less fatiguing.

Man, I must have some giant hands. I've never had a problem one-handing my Nexus 4.

Here's my one-hand smartphone test: 1) lie on your back, put one hand in your pocket, and hold the phone with your other hand. (the phone should be face-down, such that you have to grip it to avoid dropping it on your face)2) touch all four corners of the screen with your thumb.

I cannot do this with my N4. The only way I can one-handedly reach the whole screen is to precariously balance the phone on my fingertips, which obviously only works face-up.

Laying on your back while one handing your phone is an awkward test in my opinion. Holding any device up in the air over your face while on your back is fatiguing. I never use a device that way, not even my iPhone. It's far more comfortable to lay on either side. One handing the phone in that position is much more comfortable and less fatiguing.

It's also awkward to put your hand in your pocket. This is a synthetic test! I don't use my phone like this very much, either. A phone that could pass this reach-whole-screen-while-gripping-securely test:1) is less likely to fall to the ground during conventional use (I shattered the screen of my first N4 and the back of my second this way)2) could used when your other hand is holding on to a coffee mug or your dog's leash or your bicycle handlebar.

Man, I must have some giant hands. I've never had a problem one-handing my Nexus 4.

Here's my one-hand smartphone test: 1) lie on your back, put one hand in your pocket, and hold the phone with your other hand. (the phone should be face-down, such that you have to grip it to avoid dropping it on your face)2) touch all four corners of the screen with your thumb.

I cannot do this with my N4. The only way I can one-handedly reach the whole screen is to precariously balance the phone on my fingertips, which obviously only works face-up.

You're holding it wrong.

Curl your pinky and rest the bottom edge of the phone on that and your palm (base of the thumb).

Curl the tip of your ring finger around the far edge of the phone, near the bottom.

Use your thumb to access the screen.

Works for me on my Optimus G (big brother to the N4). Do a lot of reading in bed on the phone like that. And my hands aren't large by any stretch (medium gloves usually fit nice and snug; large gloves tend to be too big).

Mu wife currently has the S4 mini, it is an excellent midrange smartphone, the software integration is very good, the battery life, the shooter, the screen, all are very nice. It is to me the best balanced smartphone available to date.

This actually isn't THAT bad of a device. I had to drop back to my EVO 3D from my LTE. The LTE was 720p on 4.7" and the 3D was 540p on 4.3". If I use both side by side for about 20 minutes I can really pick up on the resolution difference. Other than that I think qHD is just fine for 4.3" screens. You really have to get close to see pixels, far closer than you'd comfortably use. But the drop in size alone has made me happy to the point where I'm probably not going to reactivate my LTE once I get it repaired.

The 3D is plenty fast for just about everything and it has an older S3 1.2ghz chip. A 1.7ghz newer chip, paired with an extra 500MB of RAM? This phone isn't going to have any issues.

If you really want a newer phone that supports the newest frequencies, has a perfectly good resolution, supports SD, has more RAM to support some OS bloat, has what seems to be a good battery size compared to the screen real estate, resolution, and processor power, AND you hate the 5" monsters that are out there, this phone seems like a great choice.

I still think the Moto X is a better choice but if this phone were all that was available I'd be happy with it.

Man, I must have some giant hands. I've never had a problem one-handing my Nexus 4.

Here's my one-hand smartphone test: 1) lie on your back, put one hand in your pocket, and hold the phone with your other hand. (the phone should be face-down, such that you have to grip it to avoid dropping it on your face)2) touch all four corners of the screen with your thumb.

I cannot do this with my N4. The only way I can one-handedly reach the whole screen is to precariously balance the phone on my fingertips, which obviously only works face-up.

Laying on your back while one handing your phone is an awkward test in my opinion. Holding any device up in the air over your face while on your back is fatiguing. I never use a device that way, not even my iPhone. It's far more comfortable to lay on either side. One handing the phone in that position is much more comfortable and less fatiguing.

It's also awkward to put your hand in your pocket. This is a synthetic test! I don't use my phone like this very much, either. A phone that could pass this reach-whole-screen-while-gripping-securely test:1) is less likely to fall to the ground during conventional use (I shattered the screen of my first N4 and the back of my second this way)2) could used when your other hand is holding on to a coffee mug or your dog's leash or your bicycle handlebar.

Please don't be using your phone while your other hand is holding on to your bicycle handlebar. The last thing anybody wants is for you to crash your bike into a pedestrian, or worse, end up in traffic.